CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2022
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias
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Dayna Spiring is the first woman to have her name on the Canadian Football League’s Grey Cup
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#BreakTheBias Resilient. It’s a word that women’s rights leaders have embodied to achieve the goals we’ve
accomplished over the centuries. It also describes how Manitobans have responded to, and navigated through, the testy waters of the past two years. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, the Free Press encountered the happy problem of having an abundance of resilient women that we could highlight, and it was difficult to choose just a few to share their amazing stories. We spotlight CEOs of businesses and non-profits, local entrepreneurs, a groundbreaking politician and a future leader of tomorrow. These individuals have remarkable stories of overcoming difficulties, embracing positive goals, giving back to the community and possessing a deep love of the province where they live. Join us in celebrating the women who understand the meaning of being resilient. Let’s hope their stories will inspire us to follow that lead!
CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2022
Director, Advertising, Niche Publications Charlene Adam Charlene.Adam@freepress.mb.ca
Editor Jennifer McFee Design Tammy Mitchell
Publisher Bob Cox
View online at winnipegfreepress.com/lifestyles
ON THE COVER Chair of Winnipeg Blue Bombers board of directors Dayna Spiring joins Winnipeggers on downtown streets Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019, to celebrate the end of a Grey Cup drought that lasted almost three decades. Spiring is the first woman in Grey Cup history to have her name appear on the trophy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Economic Development Winnipeg, Tyler Walsh.
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expert advice to fund a life Joyful By Wendy King
Debbie Styles, CFP (certified financial planner) and founder of dts lifeStyles
Do you have a dream for your future? What does it cost to have the life you really want? How can we help you connect with your desires and wants, then set out to achieve them? “The word ‘retirement’ needs to be retired, and the term ‘jubilation’ adopted,” says Debbie Styles, CFP (certified financial planner) and founder of dts lifeStyles. She says financial planning is more than building security for a far off future that some people may not be able to enjoy. It’s about bringing people into the present and funding a joyful life. “As a financial advisor, I have a responsibility to see those around me rise,” she says. “I want to encourage clients to be present in this life — so, yes, have a long-term goal, but let’s focus on the other goals, too — the one-year goal, the three- to five-year goal.” Styles shares a story of a client who was widowed when her children were in junior high. She continued to work full time as her goals were
to have her children attend private school, to pay for their university — and to take them on a safari in Africa. Seeing clients collect moments throughout their lifetime is so rewarding. “These goals are the goals that are exciting, that motivate people to work hard and realize their ability to earn and have economic success,” she says. “I think we have to create joy as much as we can, and a good financial plan will help you to achieve that.” Building a relationship with a financial planner is essential to moving towards those exciting goals. “I consider my first meeting to be a meet-and-greet — me introducing myself and how I approach advice,” she says. “That’s how the relationship starts: Do you really want advice? And do you want advice from someone like me?” She says women, and women business owners in particular, have a lot of things on their plate. Spending their most limited resource — time — more wisely is essential to well-being. “It’s not a natural skill set for
everyone to focus on growing wealth,” she says. “I work at this with clients every day and, with my expertise, clients can get some of their much-needed time back and grow their passive income starting today and into the future.” She says many women never meet with an advisor because they believe they need “thousands and thousands of dollars.” “All you need to meet with an advisor is a vision of the future that you’re willing to fight for, to believe in your earning potential, and to be open and transparent with what you have right now,” she says. “My advice is this, as noted by Maia Thom, author of kitchen table talks: Wherever you are, whatever you have or don’t have yet, just start. You are so much more capable than you think you are.” ◗
For more information about dts lifeStyles, email debbie@dtslifestyles.ca.
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COLLABORATION OVER COMPETITION
By Wendy King
Making the moves that lead to professional growth is risky. It’s like walking a tightrope. Anita Sharma Turner, 46, a brokerage co- owner and the No. 1 RE/MAX Realtor in Manitoba (anitasharmaturner.com), knows firsthand how critical it is for women to also have the right structure, professionally and personally, to take that risk. So instead of stringing up a tightrope, she wove a web of support. “When I started, I worked alongside a wonderful top producing Realtor who offered me guidance and mentorship,” she says. “And I was a new mom, but I had the support of my family including my parents and my husband’s parents. I couldn’t have done it without them.” For Sharma Turner, being a Realtor is more than making sales. It’s about connecting to the people the business brings to her. She carries on the tradition of mentorship and training at her brokerage. “I love to try to help people to be the best they can be,” she says. That desire to inspire others led to The Essential Platform, (theessentialplatform.com) the hub that carries the threads of a new and bigger web. Sharma Turner had met Jillian Harris (founder and creative director of Jillian Harris Design) and Manjit Minhas (Canadian entrepreneur, Dragons’ Den personality), and those conversations inspired her. She and her dear friend, Gabriela Klimes, came up with an idea. “We asked: How amazing would it be to have an event where we invite the women we look up to and bring them to Winnipeg to inspire others?” she says. In January 2020, the two women successfully mounted a sold-out event. The Essential Conference bills itself as “the only work and lifestyle conference that provides a distinctly female experience for ambitious women from the prairies who want to re-imagine what their life’s work can be.” The website also offers a blog and links to social media and future conference plans. “There’s just nothing like an in-person event where you can really feel the energy and connect to network with like-minded women. It was amazing.” Sharma Turner says women have reached out to her to say the event was the impetus they needed to move upward. And she herself is working with an attendee who has since grown her Airbnb portfolio three times over. Webs are built by joining the threads together. “I’m a big believer in collaboration over competition, and I encourage this in my office as well,” says Sharma Turner. “With The Essential Platform, that’s what we saw: a room full of women finding similarities and connecting.” ◗
Submitted photo
"I’m a big believer in collaboration over competition, and I encourage this in my office as well.”
- Anita Sharma Turner, brokerage co-owner and the No. 1 RE/MAX Realtor in Manitoba
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CONFIDENCE IS KEY for career growth By Kristin Marand
Dayna Spiring remains hopeful for 2022.
Dayna Spiring is a woman with an outstanding number of credits to her name. She was recently named one of the Manitoba 150 Women Trailblazers by the Nellie McClung Foundation and Honorary Colonel for 2 Canadian Air Division. She holds law and political science degrees, as well as an ICD.D professional designation developed jointly by the Institute of Corporate Directors and the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. She has contributed to numerous boards including CancerCare Manitoba, the Winnipeg Football Club, the CFL board of governors, Manitoba Hydro and Winpak. After starting out in law, Spiring worked for the Canadian Wheat Board, where she cemented her place in the business world as someone who can create value and make the kinds of decisions that move the needle. She is currently the president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg. Spiring has an easygoing demeanour for a woman of power and her confidence shines through.
She credits her ability to make decisions as a defining facet of her leadership style. “One of the skills that I have is that I can make decisions very quickly. They’re not always bulletproof decisions, but I think in order to move the needle, and in order to have progress and really get some momentum, we’ve got to act quickly,” she says. “You trust your gut, you trust your team, you get as many opinions as you can and then you make a call.” Confidence, she acknowledges, is a skill that requires cultivation. Her advice for growing confidence and career is to say YES! “When opportunities come your way, don’t second guess whether you’re good enough. Don’t second guess whether you’ve got all the skills,” she says, explaining there are aspects of every position that have to be learned on the job. “Be willing to take on new opportunities. Be willing to get out of your comfort zone and see where the path takes you.” Confidence is key to being welcomed to the table,
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- Dayna Spiring, president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg “You trust your gut, you trust your team, you get as many opinions as you can and then you make a call.”
Photo by Darcy Finley
she adds. “More and more, our business community — whether it’s primarily men or whatever the demographic is — I think they’re ready to accept other people around that table,” she says. “I think they’re ready to welcome new points of views.” Spiring jokes that for too long the city suffered from poor self-promotion, but since she’s been at the helm of Economic Development Winnipeg, she has helped bring exciting new projects, businesses and events to Winnipeg. She is hopeful for 2022 and the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. “On the economic development front, we’ve got a lot of things in the pipeline that are waiting for the world to open up again and waiting for people to be able to come and visit the city and allow us to really showcase our best assets,” she hints. “My prediction and my hope: Winnipeg is going to be a force to be reckoned with when we get to the other side of this.” ◗
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CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 7
Teen leader is one to watch
By Kristin Marand
Divya Sharma is the type of person who, when you call to talk about her, she asks questions about you.
She has a genuine desire to connect and create community and has set a remarkably high bar for herself in her final year of high school. Sharma is the youngest board member of Asian Women of Winnipeg, recently won an Empower Women 20/20 award from Manitoba Status of Women, a Solidarity Award from the United Nations and the Honour 150 award from Manitoba 150 for her volunteer efforts to provide care packages for essential workers. That’s on top of the “regular” stuff like student council president, member of the Model UN, co-leader of Youth in Philanthropy, co-founder of Law and Witness, a Rising Youth grant recipient and a mentor with CanU. Growing up in India — and inspired by her father, Kamal Sharma, and grandfather Amir Chand Sharma — she witnessed the concept of seva, or selfless service, at her local Gurudwara and knew that serving others was something she wanted to do.
Photo courtesy of The Winnipeg Foundation
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“ When her family moved to Canada, Sharma turned her desire to give back into a method for finding her way in a new life. When she learned about Terry Fox in elementary school, she realized that philanthropy is ingrained in the Canadian experience as well. “With the values I received from India and Canada, that allowed me to find myself and really identify with what I wanted to do,” she says. “I was just wrapped around this idea of youth leadership, volunteering, giving back, community service — and that spirit is so within me even today.” - Divya Sharma “I was just wrapped around this idea of youth leadership, volunteering, giving back, community service — and that spirit is so within me even today.” Sharma self-admittedly has a hard time turning down interesting opportunities but she acknowledges the importance of balance. The keys to keeping her battery charged include making time for mental and physical self- care and family. Another secret: surrounding yourself with positive people. “I believe that having people who your goals align with and people who are there to support you and there to move forward are super important,” she says. As she looks to university, Sharma wants to stay in Manitoba and is considering her options within the field of law. “Being a lawyer is definitely up there. I’ve thought about going into being a police officer, maybe even politics and opportunities such as policymaking,” she says. “Definitely law and leadership, also something that keeps me close to the community, is at the end of the day what I want to do.” ◗
CELEBRATING THE WOMEN WHO HELP BUILD OUR COMMUNITY
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CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 9
GIVING THE JOY OF By Todd Lewys
For Joy Loewen, it comes naturally to serve.
Photo by Darcy Finley
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While it takes some people a while to find their calling, Joy Loewen found hers early on. A Steinbach native, Loewen started working in radio during high school. “I started at CHSM, working after school as a receptionist and in community relations in the summer,” she recalls. “I loved everything about working there, particularly connecting with the community.” After she graduated from high school, Loewen enrolled in the Radio and TV Arts program at Ryerson University in Toronto. It didn’t take her long to find her niche. “In my second year, I got a paid internship with newly formed Vision TV,” she says. “It was a brand-new network so there was a lot to do.” Suffice it to say, it was quite the learning experience. “It was all about the community, and mostly about connecting the community to stories. I learned how to broadcast shows to millions of people and pretty much did everything from programming to community relations.” After working full-time for a year in Toronto, she moved back home in 1992 to be with her boyfriend, who would eventually become her husband. Now back home, Loewen volunteered at the Winnipeg Film Group and found paid work with the National Film Board. Then, she heard a rumour. “I heard that a new network, the Women’s Television Network (WTN), was coming to town,” Loewen says. “The same person I worked for at the Winnipeg Film Group told me about a job opportunity there. I applied and got a full-time gig in programming.” Long story short, Loewen was part of a talented group of women who launched WTN in January 1995. Working non-stop, she and her colleagues put WTN on the map. After Corus Entertainment bought WTN and changed it to W Network in 2002, Loewen left to pursue other
opportunities, eventually finding work training storytellers at the National Screen Institute. At the same time, she began serving in the community. “I served on the Balmoral Hall school board, helping to build a community where girls learn together. I learned I could lead. It’s a choice to do it and choosing to say ‘yes’ is fulfilling.” These days, Loewen — who is now CEO at the National Screen Institute — is an active volunteer with leadership roles on The Winnipeg Foundation, the Order of Manitoba Advisory and serves as a civilian aide to Manitoba’s lieutenant- governor, the Honourable Janice C. Filmon. She says her drive to serve and give back comes naturally. “I grew up in a small community, so I have a built- in inclination to support my community.”
- Joy Loewen, CEO, National Screen Institute
“I grew up in a small community, so I have a built-in inclination to support my community,” Loewen says. “It’s not just about leading; it’s also about serving. Whether I bring clothes to my church or help at The Winnipeg Foundation, I see all of it as acts of service. Today I’m giving; tomorrow I might need the support. It’s my joy to be in positions where I can give back.” ◗
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In her political role, Stefanson appreciates creating connections with people across the province.
Manitoba’s first female premier believes the true trailblazers are women who paved the path for her to tread. Heather Stefanson became Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative leader and premier in the fall of 2021. She has served 21 years as Tuxedo’s MLA, with multiple cabinet minister appointments along the way. “It is the honour of my life to serve Manitobans as their premier and that is the emotion that I feel every day,” she says. “If I can inspire more young women to get involved in politics or public service, then I will feel amazing.” Growing up, Stefanson didn’t have to look far to glean inspiration — she found it within her own home. “From an early age, I had a keen interest in public life. My mother was a citizenship judge for years and my father twice ran, albeit unsuccessfully, to represent the people of Fort Rouge in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly,” she says. MANITOBA’S FIRST FEMALE PREMIER REFLECTS ON ROLE By Jennifer McFee
“I spent many afternoons knocking on doors and watching families take the oath of citizenship — rituals that require humility and a commitment to a cause greater than yourself.” In her political role, Stefanson appreciates creating connections with people across the province. “More than anything, I enjoy listening to Manitobans and acting on their priorities. Since becoming premier, I have had the honour of meeting with Manitobans from all walks of life — including small business owners, farmers, community leaders and Indigenous elders — about their priorities for our province,” says Stefanson, who also serves as an honorary board member for Special Olympics Manitoba, a cause that is near and dear to her heart. “While I appreciate the advice of civil servants and other key advisors, I enjoy listening to Manitobans outside the legislature more than anything. I am at my happiest when I am able to hear out their concerns and then marshal the resources of government necessary to produce real results for their families and communities.” For other girls and women looking to lead, Stefanson offers some sage advice. “I hear from many young women who feel strongly that they have something to contribute but who are reluctant to make themselves vulnerable by running politically or pursuing another high-pressure career. Many young women are also worried about the toll their career aspirations may take on their personal life and their families,” she says. “What I always say to them is that everything worth doing
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is hard, but there is no better time to be an ambitious woman than today. You have access to a network of support and advice from the countless women who blazed these trails before you. So if you are being called to do something great, take the first step in making it happen — it only gets better from there.” With a broader world view, Stefanson shares well wishes for all women to enjoy a happy International Women’s Day on March 8. “International Women’s Day is an important time to celebrate everything we have accomplished in the advancement of the rights of women and girls in Canada. However, it is also an important time to reflect on all of the work we have left to do to ensure that all women and girls have the opportunity to fulfil their dreams,” she says. “This is particularly true in countries where women continue to struggle to achieve basic rights and freedoms, including the right to an education and the right to hold political office. We must continue this truly international movement to fight for the rights of women and girls around the world.” ◗
Photos courtesy of Manitoba government
Happy International W men’s Day! Women can change the world. Our PC Caucus is committed to empowering women and girls that they can do anything they put their minds to. Whether that’s leading in their field or seeking public office, a woman’s place is anywhere she believes she can be. We will continue supporting women and striving for equality.
First Female Premier of Manitoba
pcmbcaucus.com
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Humane Society CEO EMBRACES ANIMAL ADVOCACY By Jennifer McFee
For a lifelong animal advocate, it truly is the cat’s meow to work in a profession that helps our furry friends. Jessica Miller became Winnipeg Humane Society’s chief executive officer last February after serving as a board member for several years. However, she initially embarked on this journey when she was only 13. “It was then I started to become aware of animal welfare issues and took an interest in doing what I could at that young age: becoming a vegetarian, signing petitions, volunteering and taking my education seriously,” she says.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 ››
Photo by Darcy Finley
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Mira is a beautiful, gentle and sweet two-year-old girl who is looking for a family to call her very own. Mira likes to stick close to her people and will love you unconditionally (which includes gentle hugs from her). She loves playing catch, tug of war and nudging your hand for some wonderful pets.
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<< CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS
“From adolescent to adulthood, I climbed the corporate ladder but never forgetting where my true passion originated. Obtaining the CEO position for the WHS was like having your cake and eating it too.” In her dynamic role, Miller tackles duties that range from reporting to the board of directors and liaising with all levels of government to running a shelter that helps more than 10,000 animals each year. She also oversees efforts to fundraise $7 million to $8 million annually and encourages donations through www.winnipeghumanesociety.ca. “I have been given the opportunity to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. There is legislation to change, costs of our programs to recover, and hundreds of perfectly imperfect animals to get into the homes they have always deserved,” Miller says. “Not only do I see companion animals have their lives changed every day, but our organization also moves the welfare
animal investigations and attending emergencies, running One Health programming with northern communities, and providing much- needed programming to assist low- income owners.” At the same time, Miller understands the importance of giving back and believes volunteer work helped pave the path to her leadership role. Over the years, she has volunteered with countless animal rescues, as well as Kids Help Phone, Children’s Hospital Health Corporation of Manitoba. She embraces the opportunity to work with post-secondary students and participates in I Love to Read Month along with her own furry friend, Abigail the mastiff. As a woman in leadership, Miller aims to set a good example and provide opportunities to others. “I have been mentored by many strategic, business-minded, kind women in my life. I want to offer the same to those up and coming in their careers,” she says. “The WHS was founded by a woman and started out as an organization for the Foundation and the steering committee with the Catholic
protection of women and children and evolved into an animal shelter. I am certainly where I belong and hope to do justice to those who ran the organization before me — and especially to those who will run it after me.” For other girls and women aspiring toward their dreams, Miller encourages them to work hard and take the steps needed to get there. “Manifestation can be powerful. See yourself in the position you want to be in and make it so — by believing it, working for it and choosing positive paths to get yourself there,” she says. “While you are following your dreams, be kind. Kindness is key.” celebrate women for all that they are. “We are a lot of things: powerful beings, major contributors, empaths, warriors and everything in between,” she says. “Today, I will celebrate my life, my daughter and family, my career — and I will actively manifest the future I would like to see for myself.” ◗ In Miller’s eyes, International Women’s Day offers a time to
needle forward by being active in farm animal welfare, conducting
Sherry and Bailey are just two of the many puppies currently available to adopt at the Winnipeg Humane Society. Their sweet, silly and overall puppy cuteness is sure to fill your home with lots of love and joy.
Photo by Darcy Finley
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Karen Fowler, president and CEO of St. Boniface Hospital Foundation. Photo by Darcy Finley
positions, these incremental steps led to a rewarding career. “The role you play in fundraising is like a matchmaker. We match donors with opportunities to support things that are important to them and that will make a difference. In our case, it’s making a difference in health care,” she says. “The role I play inspires me on a daily basis. Without donor support, it might not be possible to help our hospital reach and maintain a level of excellence.” At the same time, Fowler feels fulfilled when she sees the ripple effect of generosity. “Every single dollar makes a difference in health care — and I can see that in the projects we support,” she says. “In the long run, we’re saving and changing lives through what we do.” With a focus on giving back, Fowler finds ways to support other organizations that are important to her. She and her husband created an annual student award in the University of Manitoba’s anthropology department, which is where they met. Fowler is also the president elect for the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Manitoba chapter, after previously serving as its mentorship chair. And for Fowler, International Women’s Day provides a chance to acknowledge women at the forefront of leadership in all its many forms. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate the women we admire, which could be a parent, a grandparent or someone in a more prominent role on the world stage,” she says. “It’s so important to have that opportunity to celebrate them.” ◗
LEADING THE WAY IN FUNDRAISING FIELD By Jennifer McFee
Anyone can be a leader, regardless of age, background or role. Karen Fowler, president and CEO of St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, came to this realization while she rose up the ranks. She gleaned inspiration from Brené Brown’s popular book Dare to Lead after making a conscious decision to learn more about leadership. “I suddenly realized that being a leader was actually possible for anyone,” she says. “It doesn’t matter what your position is within an organization or the role you play — you can actually be a leader no matter what your job is.” Fowler began incorporating this outlook into her work at St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, which she joined in 2017 as a major gifts fundraiser. She ascended to her current role last March, yet her fundraising experience began decades ago
with a volunteer stint while working on a master’s degree in cultural anthropology. “I became quite fascinated with how different cultures around the world view medicine and disease and what that meant in health care,” she says. “Going into a fundraising organization as a volunteer suddenly brought me into the awareness that good things happen in health care because of donors’ support.” It seemed like a natural progression when Fowler accepted an entry-level position as her first foray in her fundraising career. “I started reading about philanthropy and what motivates people to be supportive in that way. I attended conferences and workshops with support from my employers over the years,” she says. “All that learning and on-the-job experience led me through a variety of fundraising positions, almost all of them with foundations that raise money to support health care, specifically hospitals.” From volunteer work to paid
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THINK BIG ENGINEERING DEAN ENCOURAGES YOUNG WOMEN TO By Jim Timlick
Marcia Friesen is the first woman to serve as the dean of engineering at the University of Manitoba. Photo by Darcy Finley
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It’s a question Marcia Friesen has been asked many times but still isn’t quite sure how to answer. Friesen was appointed the dean of engineering at the University of Manitoba on Jan. 1, 2021. She is the first woman to ever hold the post in the history of the Price Faculty of Engineering, the oldest engineering school in Western Canada. One of the most frequent questions she’s had to respond to since her appointment is how she feels about that distinction. “I do get asked that question a lot. In some ways I try to shy away from it. For me, I was following a career path that made sense to me and reflected my interests and the opportunities that I’d had along the way. I wasn’t trying to make a point by being the first woman in the role,” she says. “At the same time, I’ve come to realize how many young women, including young adults in my own family and their friends, were so excited about this. It’s made me reflect on how my appointment is encouraging and inspiring to the
people around me, which can’t be underestimated. That joy is really pure and is really neat to see.” Friesen’s appointment is for a five- year term. One of her top priorities as dean is to increase enrolment in the U of M’s undergraduate engineering program by 25 per cent to meet the demands of both students and the business sector. While acknowledging that goal is ambitious, Friesen believes it is achievable. As part of that growth strategy, the faculty will need to extend its relationships with the community it serves and reimagine its outreach and recruitment strategies, she explains. “COVID has really thrown a wrench into enrolment trends, and I think we will need to diversify our prospective student base. It’s a real positive opportunity for us to reach out to students who have interests that they may not know align with engineering and never saw themselves here and say ‘this is a place for you,’” she says. For Friesen, one of the most enjoyable parts of her current position is the opportunity it provides to inspire young people the same way she once was. As a teenager, she attended
Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute (MBCI) where she studied math and physics under Harry Wall, a former engineer and recipient of the prestigious Champion of Engineering Education Award from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Manitoba (now known as Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba). Friesen says his impact on her and her career choice can’t be understated. “He was a strong advocate for the profession and women in the profession. I think his voice rose above the other voices at the time that may have been nudging me towards other things,” she recalls. As for the next generation of young women who may be considering a future career in engineering, Friesen has some advice. “Whether they’re motivated to be on the cutting edge of technology or are motivated to contribute to social and human development in their communities or motivated to express their artistic and creative talents, an engineering degree can be a pathway to a really fulfilling career. Think big and find other girls and women who support you and maybe even want to participate in that dream with you.” ◗
“ Marcia Friesen is the first woman to serve as the dean of engineering at the University of Manitoba.
"Whether they’re motivated to be on the cutting edge of technology or are motivated to contribute to social and human development in their communities or motivated to express their artistic and creative talents, an engineering degree can be a pathway to a really fulfilling career." - Marcia Friesen, dean of engineering at the University of Manitoba
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pays it forward Payworks co-founder By Todd Lewys
Barb Gamey encourages a people-first philosophy.
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That people-first philosophy — which involves listening closely to both employees and customers — has paid off over the past two-plus decades. It’s an approach that sets Payworks apart from its competitors, notes Gamey. “Our customers tell us how we’re different. We always put the customer first, always checking in with them so they can tell us what’s most important to them. They identified customer service as the No. 1 priority.” Her company firmly established, Gamey hasn’t taken her personal success for granted. Now in a position to help others, she’s dedicated herself to giving back to people and the city she lives in. Extensively involved in the community, Gamey sits on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ board of directors, the Business Council of Manitoba’s board of directors and the TELUS Manitoba community board, to name a few. “I was fortunate to get involved with the United Way early in my career,” she says. “I was able to see challenges that communities faced first-hand. When you see those challenges, you feel that if you have the time and money, you should do what you can to give back.” And that she is doing, not only through serving on the three boards she sits on, but also as the chancellor of the University of Winnipeg. “There’s the old saying — if you need to find someone to do something, find a busy person,” says Gamey. “I’ve always had an interest in community engagement and volunteerism, so I make time for it.” In essence, she’s simply doing what comes naturally. “It’s something I’m very passionate about — learning about issues, learning about communities and connecting with people. Getting involved is the way to help drive positive change. Giving fills you up and is so energizing.” She says she hopes that her spirit of giving will be infectious. “I want to provide support in a meaningful way to move the needle, and, hopefully, to inspire people to get involved by donating their time, talent and money. All giving is good; all giving makes a difference.” ◗
Barb Gamey, Payworks co-founder. Photos courtesy of Payworks
It would be fair to say that Barb Gamey’s business acumen and giving, caring attitude was shaped early in life. Those attributes were derived from family, says Gamey. “My dad was an entrepreneur, and my uncles also owned businesses,” recalls the co-founder of Payworks. “I had a lot of entrepreneurial experiences early on and saw my dad agonize over business decisions that affected his employees.” After working in the payroll field for many years, Gamey decided to take payroll services to the next level in 2000. It was then that she co-founded Payworks, blending cutting-edge computer technology with a customer- centric service philosophy. Following the example of her dad and uncles, Gamey based her business around a people-first philosophy. “Our employees and their families rely on us to make the right decisions every day. My obligation is to ensure that we have a successful business, so they don’t have to worry about their economic livelihood,” she says.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY MARCH 8 TH
FROM CHALLENGE COMES CHANGE So let’s all choose to challenge gender bias and inequality, misogyny and violence against women. How will you help forge a gender equal world? Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.
I CHOOSE
I CHOOSE
I CHOOSE
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FROM CHALLENGE COMES CHANGE So let's all choose to challenge gender bias and inequality, misogyny and violence against women. How will you help forge a gender equal world? Celebrate women's achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.
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#CHOOSETOCHALLENGE #IWD2021
PANDEMIC CANNOT REVERSE OUR PROGRESS Reflections on International Women’s Day by Canadian Museum for Human Rights CEO, Isha Khan
I mark International Women’s Day every year. I want my daughters to learn from the stories of women who came before them and share their own stories to inspire others. I want everyone to contribute to ending gender-based violence and discrimination. And I want women and all people to know their voices matter. Every year, we celebrate women with skill and tenacity who are making these things happen. We lift up women, trans, Two Spirit and non-binary people in our community and recommit ourselves to equality among all genders. I know this work is creating change. But it’s also exhausting. It’s tiring that women earn 77 cents for every dollar a man earns, and progress towards parity is so slow. It’s tiring that despite advances in medical science, safe access to an abortion here in Canada is still limited by geography, financial resources and stigma. It’s beyond tiring that many women will go to sleep tonight unsafe in their own homes because of intimate partner violence. And it’s particularly frustrating to see how the pandemic has made things that much more challenging for so many women. In Canada, 10 times more women than men have dropped out of the labour force. In skilled trades, women have been more likely to lose their jobs and stay unemployed for longer. Since women are more likely to be on the frontlines of education, health care and customer service, they face more precarious working
conditions and a higher risk of exposure to the virus than men. In many cases, women report doing more than men to care for family members and support remote learners. And if they become sick or must quarantine, those responsibilities become even more difficult. With increased social isolation, many women are at higher risk of domestic violence with reduced access to support services. Please don’t forget that Indigenous women, Black women and all women of colour face these realities at the intersection of gender, race and colonialism. Or that women with disabilities must also contend with ableism every day. We cannot allow the pandemic to stall or reverse the progress we’ve made towards a more equitable society. And those who are most affected by discrimination shouldn’t have to shoulder more than their fair share of the work ahead. I want every person reading this — and particularly men — to take action if you aren’t already. Write your public representatives. Join a conversation or reading circle. Challenge sexist attitudes and prejudices against those in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Support businesses and organizations led by women, trans, Two Spirit and non- binary people. Many hands make lighter work. The movement for universal rights and dignity needs your help today.
Isha Khan is the CEO of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Visit online at humanrights.ca ◗
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